Storyhouse Festivals
Discover a year-round programme of festivals that bring Storyhouse to life, celebrating community and culture through creativity and conversation.
Community Festivals
Storyhouse co-creates a number of festivals with different communities throughout the year. These collaborative, community-focused events bring people together to celebrate, raise awareness, and provide a safe space for all.
Storyhouse Elders
Monday 12 – Friday 16 October 2026
A week of events exploring and challenging social perceptions of age and celebrating ageing creatively.
Storyhouse Futures
Friday 6 – Wednesday 11 November 2026
A week of events, shows, films and activities at Storyhouse dedicated to sustainability
Storyhouse Queer
Tuesday 10 – Tuesday 17 February 2026
A week of events celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and putting queer talent centre stage
Cultural Festivals
Storyhouse curates and hosts a range of festivals that celebrate the art of storytelling through theatre, film, books, poetry, workshops, and more. These inspiring events showcase artists, writers, filmmakers, and thinkers, creating opportunities for audiences to discover new perspectives, ideas, and stories.
WayWord Festival
October Half-Term at Storyhouse
A celebration of stories and imagination. Children’s authors and illustrators live on stage, enchanting theatre performances, fun workshops, crafts, storytelling, films and more! Lots of activities are FREE.
Chester Literature Festival
May – June 2027
Our annual celebration of books, poetry and storytelling fills Storyhouse with talks, performances, workshops and more.
Chester International Film Festival
12 March – 21 March 2027
An annual celebration of the very best in contemporary independent cinema, In partnership between Storyhouse, Chester Film Society, and the University of Chester.
Seasonal Festivals
Storyhouse also hosts a variety of arts and cultural events throughout the year, in partnership with and in response to local and national campaigns. These festivals and programmes create opportunities to explore important topics, celebrate communities, and engage with a wide range of themes.
Festival of Ideas
Save the date: 1-4 July 2027
A programme of free, inclusive and accessible public events on a wide range of themes in and around Chester, co-created by the University of Chester and external stakeholders and city partners.
Refugee Week
15 – 21 June 2026
Inspired by the lives and experiences of people seeking sanctuary, Refugee Week 2026 invites us to explore the theme of courage.